Chapter 20: Did You Know She Had a Boyfriend?
1041 Words
Gu Zechuan didn't make it back to the villa until three in the morning. He stumbled into his bedroom, collapsing onto the bed in a drunken stupor.
He woke up hours later, jolted by a sharp, gnawing pain in his gut. "Chutang, my stomach hurts," he croaked, his voice thick with sleep. "Get me my meds."
Silence.
"Chutang? Chutang!"
He sat bolt upright, the fog in his brain clearing as reality set in. Chutang was gone. A hollow ache settled in his chest, more persistent than the cramp in his stomach. He felt suffocated by the quiet.
Clutching his midsection, he scrambled out of bed and began tearing through the drawers, looking for his stomach medicine. The pain was becoming unbearable. Desperate, he dialed the housekeeper.
Auntie Zhang picked up, her voice dazed. "Sir?"
"Where is my medicine?" Zechuan demanded.
On the other end, the housekeeper took a deep, shaky breath. She had to remind herself that he paid well—very well—to keep from screaming. She glanced at the clock: 4:00 AM. *Is he insane?*
"The first-aid kit is in Miss Ruan’s room," she replied, her voice strained but polite. "First shelf of the cabinet."
Zechuan hung up and staggered down the hall. He leaned against the wall of Chutang’s empty room, pulling open the cabinet door. He found the kit, packed with various boxes and bottles, but his head spun. He didn't recognize any of them.
Usually, Chutang would have the right pills ready before he even had to ask. He squinted at the labels through the haze of pain, eventually downing two random capsules and hoping for the best. He collapsed back into bed and fell into a fitful sleep.
When he finally woke up at noon, he called for the housekeeper. "Make me that porridge for my stomach."
Auntie Zhang hesitated. "You mean the one Miss Ruan used to make?"
"Yes."
"I can't do that, sir."
Zechuan’s face darkened. "Why not?"
"That porridge takes an entire night of prep. The lily bulbs and pearl barley have to soak for hours, and the yam and beef have to be perfectly fresh. It's too late for that now," she explained. "Besides, I don't know her exact recipe or how she seasoned it. I’d just be guessing."
Zechuan’s jaw tightened. "Can you make plain white rice porridge?"
"That, I can do."
"Then do it." He rubbed his temples, a massive headache blooming behind his eyes. He leaned back against the headboard, closing his eyes to find some peace.
*Knock. Knock.*
Zechuan’s eyes flew open, a spark of hope igniting in his chest. Was she back? Had she finally given up on this game? "Come in!"
The door swung open, and Chen Wan stepped inside. The smile on Zechuan’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of profound disappointment. "Oh. It's you."
Chen Wan didn't miss the shift in his expression. She clenched her hidden fists, knowing exactly who he had been expecting. She forced a bright, caring smile onto her face.
"Auntie Zhang said you weren't feeling well. Are you okay, Zechuan?"
"I'm fine," he muttered, turning away.
She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled out her phone. "Look, I found a great itinerary for Xinjiang. We can rent a car and bring two drivers. The province is huge, so driving ourselves is the best way to see Kanas and then—"
Suddenly, her voice felt like a drill against his skull. She wouldn't stop talking. Every word was an irritant. If it were Chutang, she would be quiet, soothing him, feeding him the porridge spoonful by spoonful.
"Enough," Zechuan snapped, cutting her off. "We'll talk about it tomorrow. I’m tired."
Chen Wan stiffened, her gaze dropping to her lap. "Am I... am I annoying you?" Her voice was thick with hurt.
Zechuan sighed, his resolve softening slightly. "No. I just have a headache. The trip can wait. Let me rest."
"Okay," she whispered, leaning in to wrap her arms around his waist, clinging to him like a shadow.
***
In Jiang City, a group of wealthy heirs were gathered in a private card room at a high-end club.
Zhou Zhen'an glanced at the watch on Jiang Shixu’s wrist and let out a low whistle. "Nice piece. New?"
Jiang Shixu played a card, a smug grin spreading across his face. "You like it? Chutang got it for me."
"Tsk. A gift from the fiancée," Qin Yan teased. "Must be nice. A man with a woman like that really is living a different life."
Zhou Zhen'an looked up, his expression curious. "I’ve been meaning to ask—why the Ruan family? Was this your parents' idea? That doesn't seem like them."
In their world, social circles overlapped, but status was everything. Jiang Shixu was at the top of the food chain. He could have married royalty if he wanted to. A business family like the Ruans was beneath his league.
Jiang Shixu’s eyes softened. "It wasn't an alliance."
"What?" Qin Yan gasped. "Then what was it?"
"Three years ago, I was the one who approached Ruan Shaodong," Jiang Shixu admitted. "I waited until Chutang graduated. The second she had that diploma, I made my move."
He leaned back, his eyes shining. "I told him he could name his price. Anything he wanted, as long as I got to marry her."
"You’ve had a thing for her this whole time?" Qin Yan shook his head in disbelief. "Man, you’re deep. We’ve been friends for years and I never saw it coming."
Zhou Zhen'an chuckled. "So it was a secret crush? You should have said something. You’ve been so uninterested in women for years, I actually thought you were gay."
Qin Yan leaned in, grinning. "So, when did this obsession start?"
Jiang Shixu didn't look up from his cards. "That's a secret."
"Oh, look at him, playing it cool," Qin Yan scoffed. "Don't get too ahead of yourself, buddy. Chutang ran away for three years just to avoid this marriage. Her heart might not be in it. That gift might just be a polite gesture."
Zhou Zhen'an’s expression shifted, becoming uncharacteristically serious. "Actually, Jiang... Chutang had a boyfriend while she was away. Did you know about that?"
- Writer
